Indoor stadium sod turn

THE Surf Coast Multi-Purpose Indoor Stadium held its sod turning at the site in Torquay on Tuesday, with representatives of various sporting and political groups present for the event.

Surf Coast Shire mayor Rose Hodge, South Barwon Labor MP Darren Cheeseman, Victorian Liberal Senator Sarah Henderson, and Surf Coast Secondary College principal Scott Diamond all spoke at the sod turning.

The $12.75 million for the three-court facility comprises $5 million from the federal government, $3 million from the state government, and $4.75 million from the Surf Coast Shire.

Senator Henderson said the stadium would help meet accommodate the growth in the region.

“The extraordinary growth of the Surf Coast has driven the need for this facility which will be home to basketball, netball, futsal, badminton and volleyball competitions.

“Growth in these sports alone is expected to double in the coming years.”

The federal government’s contribution to the stadium comes from its Building Better Regions Fund.

Ms Henderson said the project would help achieve this not only by helping the community be more active, but through providing more employment opportunities.

“I am delighted to say that the Surf Coast Multi-Purpose Indoor Sports Stadium will involve 37 construction jobs and create another 25 ongoing jobs.”

The state government’s contribution came from its Better Indoor Stadiums Fund.

Mr Cheeseman said the new stadium would ensure the Surf Coast had state of the art facilities.

“People along our Surf Coast deserve modern and safe facilities they can be proud of and now thanks to our investment in partnership with the Council and Federal Government they can be.”

Corangamite Labor federal member and former Surf Coast Shire councillor Libby Coker said she was delighted to see work under way on the stadium.

“The Surf Coast Shire has worked long and hard to secure funding for this project and for the growing Surf Coast community. The expanded stadium will be located right next to Surf Coast Secondary College, soccer, football and netball facilities and will provide access to local children and adults.”

The stadium’s construction is expected to take about 12 months.

It will be used by the college, local sporting groups and other community groups.